Cities are at the heart of consumption and production, and the choices we make today will shape the sustainability of tomorrow. The 2026 Sustainable Cities Challenge (Tertiary Edition) invites you to explore and rethink how food and fashion are sourced, made and consumed in urban environments.
From sustainable food systems to circular fashion, this challenge calls for bold innovative ideas that reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and support low-carbon, circular economies. It is an opportunity to turn real-world challenges into practical, scalable solutions that can transform the way cities and communities operate.
Your are invited to select either a fashion apparel category OR food production sector, and develop innovative solutions to improve the sustainability of their current production processes.
Your proposal should focus on making real-world systems more environmentally responsible, low-carbon, and resource-efficient while remaining practical for industry adoption
Working in a team of 2 to 4 members (maximum), participating teams are to select ONE challenge to prepare their proposal.
CLOSING DATE FOR PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION
SUSTAINABLE FASHION
Select a fashion product category (e.g. footwear, denim, sportwear or luxury goods, etc) and analyse its current production and manufacturing system.
Propose a sustainable and low-carbon improvement model that enhances its operations, from material sourcing and design to manufacturing, packaging and distribution. Show clearly what changes you are making to the existing system and how these improvements create a more sustainable fashion production process.
Your solution should:
- Reduce environmental impact with calculations and evidences (e.g. carbon emissions, water use, waste)
- Improve resource efficiency
- Incorporate sustainable materials and production methods
- Be practical and scalable for real-world adoption
RESPONSIBLE FOOD PRODUCTION
Select a food production/manufacturing sector (e.g. packaged food, canned food, real-meals, etc) as a case study, and analyse its current production system.
Propose a low-carbon and sustainable improvement model that enhances its operations across the value chain, from raw material sourcing and production to processing, packaging and distribution. Clearly demonstrate what changes you are making to the existing system, and how these improvements lead to a more sustainable and resilient food production process.
Your solution should:
- Reduce environmental impact with calculations and evidences (e.g. carbon emissions, water use, waste)
- Improve resource efficiency
- Incorporate climate-resilient practices
- Be practical and scalable for real-world implementation
Follow the Challenge Roadmap to guide your journey from idea to impact.
**Shortlisted finalist teams from each challenge shall be notified via email.
* Panel presentation will consist of 10 mins presentation + 5 mins Q&A from the judging panel
Winning teams from each Challenge will be awarded with:
CHAMPION TEAM
Trophy and Certificates of Achievement, $600 e-Capitaland vouchers
FIRST RUNNER-UP TEAM
Trophy and Certificates of Achievement, $400 e-Capitaland vouchers
SECOND RUNNER-UP TEAM
Trophy and Certificates of Achievement, $200 e-Capitaland vouchers
2 Merit teams from each Challenge will be presented with Certificates of Merit
Take the next step in bringing your ideas to life. Explore the Proposal Framework to understand how to shape a strong, compelling submission, from addressing key challenge touchpoints to defining your solution.
When you are ready, submit your proposal via the button below. Be part of driving impactful change, your ideas could make a real difference.
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